Adhesive bounded picture mount having a locating shoulder

ABSTRACT

A photographic mounting system with a mount and a peel-off backing. The mount has bonding and non-bonding areas and retains the photograph between the non-bonding area and a support such as a page of a photo album. When in use, the mount adheres only to the support. The non-bonding area is recessed with respect to the bonding area, thus allowing the photograph to be more easily interposed and located between the mount and the support.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for mounting images, and more particularly to the retention of a photograph to a page, wherein the photograph is affixed to the page by an adhesive strip having a non-bonding area overlaying the photograph.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The storage and display of images such as photographs often significantly contributes to their value. That is, if a picture is never displayed, its value will likely not be realized. Even if the picture is displayed, the mounting of the picture may contribute to its degradation. That is, many current mounting components tend to deteriorate over time, thereby creating the risk of releasing the photograph from the mount. In addition, some mounts may actually degrade the retained photograph.

[0003] This deterioration of the photograph may result from contact or exposure of the photograph to the mount. Chemicals from the mount may leach into the photograph and distort the image quality. A further problem exists in mounting a picture to a given page in a desired location. Thus, misalignment often occurs. Devices employed for mounting pictures have utilized double-sided adhesive stickers which were stuck to the back of picture at the comers and then stuck to a mounting sheet by moistening the stickers. However, these adhesives are generally harmful to the photograph or prohibitively expensive.

[0004] Alternatively, slits in a mounting sheet have been used to retain a photograph with respect to the sheet. The slits are cut in the sheet and allow no user modification. Thus, there is no ability to locate the photograph in a particular location on a page.

[0005] Conventional photo-comers are generally triangular pockets with an adhesive back. The back may be self-adhesive or may have an adhesive that needs to be moistened and then sets to form a bond. While avoiding the aforementioned problems, the manufacture of photo comers includes folding operations that are relatively complex for such a simple application and represent increased manufacturing expense.

[0006] Therefore, the need exists for a retention system that can retain a photograph without exposing the photograph to damaging adhesives. The need also exists for a retention system that involves less complexity and therefore greater economy of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a system for retaining a photograph relative to a support such as an album page. The system includes a mount having an adhesive contact surface for engaging the support, and a non-bonding area, wherein a locating shoulder is formed in the non-bonding area or at a bonding/non-bonding area interface. The mount can include a pair of locating shoulders, wherein the shoulders intersect or are non parallel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a retaining system showing a plurality of mounts removably adhered to a backing.

[0009]FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic side elevation of one of the mounts after removal from the backing.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mount after removal from the backing.

[0011] FIGS. 4(a)-4(f) are plan views of various examples of the mount.

[0012] FIGS. 5(a)-5(e) are perspective views of various examples of the mount.

[0013] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are plan views of the photograph mounted on a support using different examples the mount.

[0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the photograph mounted on the support using one example of the mount.

[0015]FIG. 8 shows a plurality of the mounts on a backing in sheet form.

[0016]FIG. 9 shows a plurality of the mounts on a backing in roll form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] A picture-retaining system 100 of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. Although the term “photograph” is used herein, it is understood an image (picture, text or graph) on a sheet member can be retained by the present invention. In particular, used to affix an article such as a photograph 140 to a support 144 such as a page of a photo album, as shown in FIGS. 6(a-b) and 7. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a retaining strip or mount 120 with a contact surface 122 including an adhesive layer 104 which releasably adheres to a backing 106. The adhesive layer 104 is absent from a portion of the contact surface 122 which is referred to as a non-bonding area 124; the remaining part of the contact surface 122 that has the adhesive layer 104 is referred to as a bonding area 126. The mount 120 has a top surface 128 opposed to the contact surface 122. It is intended that the mount 120 engages the photograph 140 at a peripheral portion thereof, such as a comer 142, the photograph 140 being retained between the non-bonding area 124 and the support 144, while the mount 120 adheres only to the support 144.

[0018] Various types of adhesive may be used for the adhesive layer 104. An adhesive may be used which allows removal of the mount 120 to be released from the backing 106. The adhesive can be either releasable or permanent (non-releasable) with respect to the support 144. A “permanent” type adhesive substantially precludes non-destructive separation of the mount 120 from the support 144. In contrast, a releasable adhesive allows removal of the mount 120 from the support 144 without causing damage thereto, while nevertheless providing a firm enough bond to retain the photograph 140 in place on the support 144. Such an adhesive would be preferred if a user wished to relocate mounts 120 on the support 144 to accommodate a new photograph 140 of a different size. Alternatively, the mount 120 may have an adhesive which, while allowing removal of the mount 120 from the backing 106, would preclude removal of the mount 120 from the support 144. This might be preferred if the user did not intend to remove the photograph 140 from the support within a foreseeable time, or anticipated replacing the photograph 140 only with another one of the same size. Adhesives of both types are common in the art.

[0019] The mounts 120 are typically elongate, having a generally central non-bonding area 124 bounded at least in opposed longitudinal directions by bonding areas 126. A variety of configurations is possible, examples being shown in FIGS. 4(a-f) and 5(a-e). In some examples, the non-bonding areas 124 are triangular or trapezoidal. FIGS. 4(b-e) show possible variations of the mount 120 with a triangular non-bonding area 124. The triangular and trapezoidal non-bonding areas 124 are particularly suitable for mounting rectangular photographs 140 at comers 142 thereof, especially when the non-bonding area 124 has a pair of sides perpendicular to each other.

[0020] Particular reference to the aforementioned shapes of the non-bonding area 124 should not be taken as excluding other shapes. It is understood the non-bonding area 124 must extend to at least one edge of the mount 120, typically a longitudinal edge 130.

[0021] Examples of the use of the mount 120 are shown in FIGS. 6(a-b) and 7, which illustrate the mounting of the photograph 140 on the support 144 using the mounts 120 of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(f). While the mount 120 is often rectangular, it may have other shapes. For example, the mount 120 can be triangular or trapezoidal as in FIGS. 4(d-f), such shapes being considered pleasing in appearance when in use and avoiding some waste of material; for example, see FIGS. 6(b) and 7.

[0022] The top surface 128 of the mount 120 can be decorated with indicia 132 such as patterns, or it may be provided in alternative colors, which may for example be selectable to match the support 144. The top surface 128 may have variety of different finishes, such as glossy, matte, textured, iridescent or metallic. The retaining system 100 can be provided in the form of a sheet 108 (FIG. 8) or a roll 110 (FIG. 9).

[0023] The mount 120 is shaped or embossed so that the non-bonding area 124 is recessed (or set off) relative to the bonding area 126, a recess 134 being provided in the contact surface 122 to a height generally consistent with a typical thickness of photographic paper or any other relevant medium. Thus, the mount 120 is formed with at least one locating shoulder 136. Formation of the recess 134 produces the shoulder 136 in the top surface 128 and a corresponding shoulder in the contact surface 122. The locating shoulder 136 in the contact surface 122 can be entirely within the non-bonding area 124 or, as is typical, at an interface between the bonding area 126 and the non-bonding area 124.

[0024] Note also that, especially when the non-bonding area 124 extends between opposed edges 130, the mount 120 may be more flexible in the non-bonding area 124 than might be desired. As part of the embossing process a reinforcing element, such as a strengthening rib 138, may optionally be incorporated into the non-bonding area 124, as seen in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b). The strengthening rib 138 may be decorative, for example being incorporated into an embossed ornamental design.

[0025] To use the retaining system 100, the user places the photograph 140 at a desired location on the support 144. After separating a first mount 120 from the backing 106, which may either be as the sheet 108 or the roll 110, the user positions the mount 120 atop a comer 142 of the photograph 140, so that only the non-bonding area 124 of the contact surface 122 contacts the photograph 140. The user then applies pressure on the mount 120 with a thumb or finger to ensure that the bonding area 126 adheres to the support 144. The same process is repeated at the remaining comers 142 of the photograph 140.

[0026] If the mount is non-releasably adhered to the support, the photograph may be removed as follows; the user slightly flexes the photograph 140 so that the comers 142 are withdrawn from between the mounts 120 and the support 144. To remount the photograph 140, or mount a new one of the same dimensions, the user can insert the comers 142 between the undisturbed mounts 120 and the support 144; the recesses 134 make this especially convenient. This is also an option even if the mount is releasably adhered to the support.

[0027] Finally, if the user wishes, the releasably adhered mount 120 may be peeled off the support 144 without causing any damage, releasing the photograph 140 and allowing another, perhaps differently sized, photograph 140 to be displayed on the same support 144.

[0028] In the present invention, the bonding areas 126 and the non-bonding area 124 are formed on the same planar side of the mount 120. In contrast, the prior devices that employ folding or bending, such that the adhesive and the photograph are on an opposing sides of a strip of material, the present construction locates the adhesive and the photograph contacting surface on the same side of the strip.

[0029] While the invention has been described with reference to a certain embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A picture mounting system for retaining a picture relative to a support, the system comprising: (a) a mount having a with a pair of spaced apart locating shoulders, an area intermediate the locating shoulders being free of adhesive, and a pair of spaced apart bonding areas, the bonding areas sufficiently spaced to dispose the non-bonding area intermediate the spaced bonding areas; (b) an adhesive on the bonding areas; and (c) a release film removably attached to adhesive.
 2. The picture mounting system of claim 1, wherein the locating shoulders intersect.
 3. The picture mounting system of claim 1, wherein the locating shoulders define an interface between the non-bonding area and the bonding areas.
 4. The picture mounting system of claim 1, wherein the locating shoulders are embossed.
 5. The picture mounting system of claim 1, wherein the locating shoulder has a height at least as great as a thickness of the picture.
 6. The picture mounting system of claim 1, wherein the locating shoulders are non-parallel.
 7. A mounting system for retaining a photograph on a support, comprising: (a) a mount having a contact surface with a bonding area and a recessed non-bonding area, the non-bonding area being recessed from the bonding area; (b) a backing removably attached to the mount; and (c) an adhesive layer on the bonding area which releasably bonds the mount to the backing, and which further bonds the mount to the support after the backing is removed; the non-bonding area being configured to engage a portion of a periphery of the photograph.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-bonding area extends to at least one edge of the mount.
 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a reinforcing element in the non-bonding area.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-bonding area is rectangular.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-bonding area is triangular.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-bonding area is trapezoidal.
 13. The system of claim 7, the mount being colored.
 14. The system of claim 7, the mount having a matte finish.
 15. The system of claim 7, the mount having a glossy finish.
 16. The system of claim 7, the mount having a metallic finish.
 17. The system of claim 7, the mount having an iridescent finish.
 18. The system of claim 7, the mount having a textured finish.
 19. The system of claim 7, the mount having indicia.
 20. The system of claim 7, wherein a plurality of mounts are removably attached to the backing.
 21. The system of claim 7, wherein the adhesive layer releasably bonds the mount to the support after the backing is removed.
 22. A method for releasably retaining a photograph on a support, comprising: (a) fabricating a mount having a contact surface with a bonding area and a non-bonding area, the bonding area having an adhesive layer, the non bonding area extending to at least one edge of the mount; (b) forming a locating shoulder in the non-bonding area; (c) removably attaching a backing to the mount, such that the adhesive layer releasably bonds the mount to the backing; (d) removing the backing from the mount; (e) placing the photograph on the support; and (f) placing the mount atop the photograph and the support so that the bonding area contacts the support and only the non-bonding area contacts the photograph.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising making the adhesive layer releasable relative to the support.
 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising making the adhesive layer non-releasable relative to the support.
 25. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a strengthening rib in the non-bonding area.
 26. The method of claim 22, including fabricating the mount so that the non-bonding area is trapezoidal.
 27. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming the mount to have a trapezoidal periphery.
 28. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming the mount to have a triangular periphery. 